No Rules - Just Right?

 

A young soldier left home on Army deployment overseas. He told his girlfriend he would write every day. After about six months, he received a letter from his girlfriend stating she was getting married. He wrote home wanting to know who she was marrying. The family wrote back and told him it was the…. mailman.

If a boy has a part-time job after school, he’s called “a go-getter.” If the church asks him to rise early on Saturday morning to spend a couple of hours doing some work for the Lord, people might say, “That’s asking too much!” If a woman were to work eight hours at some community project, people would say, “She’s a fine, energetic, public-minded person.” But if she were to work eight hours for the church, some would say, “Her religion has gone to her head!” If an employer asks an employee to work each day, and not be tardy, some people will say, “He’s a sensible businessman who requires that which is only right.” But if the elders of the church ask the members of the church to attend three services each week, and to please arrive on the scheduled time, some are ready to say, “You ask too much. And besides, it doesn’t matter if I’m on time to services anyway.

If one wants a good steak and baked potato, Outback Steakhouse, is probably a good choice. By now most have heard their advertisements on the radio and television. After making the pitch for their product, the announcer, in his Australian brogue, says, “Outback Steakhouse. No rules. Just right.” That sounds great, doesn’t it? There’s some appeal to a place where there aren’t any rules or restrictions and no matter what, everything turns out all right.

One day it dawned on me that many people have “Outback Religion.” When it comes to their relationship with God, they want it to be “No rules. Just right.” They want to be able to come to God on their own terms and yet have Him welcome them just the same. More and more it seems we find people, who find comforting the thought of having a meaningful relationship with God, who are unwilling to follow the rules. I suppose it has always been so that many wanted God on their terms, but it has always been true that Jehovah has never allowed mankind to call the shots or make the rules. Either we come to Him as He wills, or we don’t come at all. When one claims a relationship with God but want to keep their bad habits, and ungodly practices, and sinful relationships then what their looking for is an Outback Religion.

[Acts 20:25-30] But God does have “rules” and here are three things to remember about them. 1) “The Rules” Are God’s. The natural tendency is to “kill the messenger” but we must realize that if one is speaking the truth, he is only a messenger of the will of God. Jesus said, “If you love me, keep my commandments” (Jonn 14:21). To be sure, making our own rules is a violation of God’s will (Revelation 22:18), but just as wrong is the ignoring of God’s law (Revelation 22:19). 2) The Rules Are For Our Own Good. Ultimately, what God requires of us is in our best interest. Throughout the centuries of His dealings with mankind, God has never forbidden something good for man, nor has He required something harmful. 3) “The Rules” Will Judge Us. Whether we live by them or not, we will be eternally judged by the will of God. Jesus said, “He who rejects me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him – the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day” (John12:48).

When we submit ourselves wholly to living by the will of God, “He cleanses us of our sins” (1 John 1:7-9). One might say, when we live by God’s rules, He makes us just right.

Who Owns the Church?

 

Sometimes people will ask me about my church. They assume since I am a minis­ter (“the pastor”) of the church of Christ, that somehow, I have some ownership or say over it. Members do that too. We remark ‘at my church’ or ‘come to my church.’ It might just be a slip of the tongue, but we need to work to correct it. Because it is not ‘our’ church, and that is a particularly good thing! The church of me wouldn’t be a good one. Oh, it might be likable enough, it could be entertaining, and it might have the community’s approval. The church of me could be growing and financially stable but it doesn’t have enough.

You see churches come at a cost. In order to have a group of redeemed, you must have a redeemer. A sacrifice to pay the cost. And I don’t have enough in me. A church founded on me cannot save because I can’t save myself, much less anyone else. Jesus was the only one sin­less, the only one with the blood pure enough to make that purchase. He said He would build His church (Matthew 16:18) and place the saved into it (Acts 2:47). That is the church one should seek.

Many have tried to steal Jesus’ church from Him and make it their own. But the minute He isn’t the head of the church; it ceases to be His. If it is my church, it can’t be His. Any other church, no matter how pretty it is on the outside, is lacking the core of what matters, sal­vation. I don’t want any part of my church; I only want to be a part of His!

[Joshua 24:15] The remainder of this article is being met with much displeasure these days. I am sorry to say it, but many do not like to hear about it. People don’t like the description. They think it is exclusionary, arrogant, and egotistical. For example, when someone asks me what church I am a member of, I often reply, “I am a member of the Lord’s church.” Perhaps I might say, “I am a member of the church you can read about in the Bible.” Again, I could say, “I am a member of the body of Christ,” or of the “church of Christ.” Much of the time the last one gives them what they want. Now they can categorize me into their own opinion about what they think I believe.

Let’s examine that within the light of the Scriptures. What does the Bible say about the idea of The Lord’s church? [Matthew 16:18] “And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock (the solid rock truth of Peter’s confession stated in v.16 “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God”) I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.” [Acts 2:47] “…the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.” [Acts 20:28] “Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.” [Ephesians 1:22-23] “And he put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.” [Ephesians 5:23-25] “For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her.” So, if the Lord built the church, is head of the church, and if the church is His body, and it is subject to Him in everything, doesn’t it make sense that it belongs to Him? I think the real problem lies with those who have attempted to organize a “church” to be something other than the Lord’s. Unfortunately, many have accomplished that goal. But as for me and my house, we will continue to let the church be His and urge and teach others to flow into it. I am not, nor will I ever be, a member of the unscriptural, hedonistic “United” church of Christ. Amen!

What Is A Good Christian?

 

I have a good friend. She doesn’t drink alcohol; thus, she has never been involved in any alcohol-related crimes or embar­rassments. She doesn’t destroy her mind through the use of illicit drugs. I have never heard my friend gossip or tell a sin­gle lie. She never wastes her time in nightclubs, casinos, or questionable establishments. I cannot recall ever hearing her speak with profanity or vulgarity. And she has never cheated a soul in business. Many people would call my friend a “good Christian.” Yet you need to know that I have just described my dog, Bella!

The world holds many good and hon­est souls who are not maliciously en­gaged in the blackest of evils. Many of these good, moral citizens are our neighbors, our friends, our relatives. They may, in some cases, be more mor­al than some of the church’s more nom­inal members. But they should not, by virtue of their upstanding lifestyles, be confused with “good Christians.” They may refrain from wrong; they may even be involved in promoting much that is right. But outside of Christ they cannot be considered Chris­tians. Not until one comes to Christ and obeys the gospel is one a Christian. There’s a world of difference between my dog and a “good Christian.”

 [Acts 4:12] Why is it that some Christians seem to believe that their only responsi­bility in reaching the lost is to live a pure lifestyle before them? Will alien sinners become Christians by simply observing that Christians refrain from things like profanity, fornication, and drugs? Will simply being kind to others convert the lost? There are many others in this world besides Christians who are kind to others. There can even be atheists who choose to be kind to their fellow man. There are other religions besides Christianity which emphasize humility, kindness, sobriety, modest dress, and other forms of morality. What makes Christianity different, and how will the lost learn those differenc­es?

Certainly, the Christian’s influence must not be minimized (Matthew 5:13-16); and yes, Christians are to live holy lives and be kind to others (1 Peter 1:15-16; Matthew 5:38-48); but is that all it takes to con­vert the lost? No one can live a pure enough life to save himself, and there is still no other name to save us but the name of Jesus Christ.

We need to learn what being a Chris­tian is all about. Being a Christian in­volves more than merely not doing evil. A Christian must be concerned with actually doing good, fully submitting to Christ, and living by faith. Christ taught, “If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23). Complete and total submission to Christ is essential if we would be called by His name. Like the brethren of Smyrna, all who are in Christ are expected to “…be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.” (Revelation 2:10).

Of course, the answer is that Chris­tians must expose the lost to the words of the Bible! True faith does not come from seeing someone live a good, mor­al life. Faith comes from hearing the Word of God! (Romans 10:17). If the Seed (God’s Word) is not planted, the fruit (a Christian) will never be produced (Luke 8:11-15). The Great Commission does not teach Christians to simply go out and live an upright life. Christians are specifically told to teach, baptize, and teach some more (Matthew 28:19-20). Philip had to “open his mouth” to con­vert the Ethiopian (Acts 8:35). If we would open our mouth and “preach Jesus” like Philip did, would we not expect the same reaction of the Ethiopia? “...what hinders me from being baptized? …I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” (Acts 8:30-37).

Jesus commanded “…love one another as I have loved you” (Matthew 15:12).

The Last Best Hope

 

Sir Winston Churchill, who led Britian through its darkest hours, was a man of many notable accomplishments. He is recognized as one of the great leaders in world history. But of his life’s work, he said, “My most brilliant achievement was my ability to be able to persuade my wife to marry me.” He and his beloved Clementine were married in 1908 and remained married until his death 56 years later. Of course, many couples have been married longer than the esteemed prime minister. According to Guinness World Records, the record is 86 years, 9 months, and 16 days, and it belongs to Herbert and Zelmyra Fisher. They were married in 1924, 18 and 16 years old at the time. Their marriage held up through the Great Depression, World War II, the Koreon War, the Vietnam War, the Civil Rights Movement, and fifteen presidential administrations.

Both Herbert and Zelmyra are gone now, each dying at the age of 105. Before they died, they talked about their marriage and some keys to its longevity. They felt it was important for them to respect, support, and communicate with each other. Being faithful, honest, and true to each other was critical. And, of course, loving each other with all their hearts. They always remembered that marriage I not a contest and it did no good to keep score.

[1 Corinthians 13] is often called the “love” chapter of the Bible. What these passages say about love are certainly pertinent to a marriage. No question. But the apostle Paul is primarily writing about what it takes for any relationship to work, whether it is an intimate connection like a spousal or family relationship, a church or neighborly connection, or the person who lives in the room or apartment next to you.

“Love is patient,” Paul writes. “Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. (v’s 4-8a). Put this advice to work and any relationship will work!

In 1997 Western Christian Foundation published a book by Nelson M. Smith, entitled Agape Study Manual. Smith identified all the places the word love and its related terms appeared in the KJV Bible. Then he wrote comments on every single verse where love was mentioned. The book has 475 pages. Smith said he was no scholar, but one thing he understood well: Love is at the center of God’s plan of salvation. How would our lives be changed if we read the Bible through while focused on love, especially the love of God? How would we change the lives of others if we moved throughout each day while focused on love, especially God’s love for the lost? How would our families change if we spent every moment with them charged with love, especially God’s familial love? How would our congregations be changed if a handful of saints decided to love as Jesus loved? Just reading about love in the Bible won’t change anything. But reading with open hearts, with prayers to be transformed by the Word, with effort to become like the Lord Jesus Christ, God will make love radiate from our lives outward to touch and bless everyone around us.

One month before signing the Emancipation Proclamation, Abraham Lincoln wrote a letter to Congress in which he addressed freeing the country’s slaves. Lincoln stressed the importance of doing the right thing to “save our country,” which he described as “the last best hope of earth.” God says, “Unless the Lord builds the house, They labor in vain who build it…” (Psalm 127:1). When it comes to modeling for the world what the home should look like, the church of Jesus Christ is “the last best hope of earth.”

Gray Hairs

 

Well, I’m about to complete my seventy-fifth trip around the sun and I’m looking forward to several more before my ship runs out of steam. I thought I would wax poetic for a moment and then honor those who are far ahead of me in their journey on the road of life. Without parents and grandparents, aunts and uncles, teachers and wise tutors of life, we would have certainly had a much harder time getting this far.

When shades of night begin to fall, And shadows lengthen on the wall, My thoughts roll back to days of yore; Like waves that gently lap the shore. The youth I lost, so long ago. Just where it went, I do not know. Too soon, a young man took his place. Then, age replaced that smiling face. The child I raised, from very birth, Has gone to find his place on earth. He, too, will find that time flies by. ‘Tis but a twinkle of God’s eye. I live my memories, o’er and o’er, And wonder if I could have done more. Not one of those days were perfect spent. And yet the next was duly sent. I tried and tried, with all my might, But never did get one right. I’ve lived for many thousand days; A testament to God’s patient ways. And now my memories, good and bad, Remind me of the chance I had, To live my life the way I should; To shun the bad, embrace the good. And yet, I trod the time worn road. I walked alone, with heavy load; Too proud to think that God would care, My many burdens to gladly share. And then, one day, I was wholly spent. So, down from heaven, His Son He sent. Not only did He lift my earthly load, But put me back on the narrow road. So now, my mind is full at ease, No longer tossed like heavy seas. Whatever life, now, has in store, I have a haven on yonder shore. It’s not a prize that I have won, But the gift, from God, of His precious Son.

[Leviticus 19:32] “You shall rise before the gray headed and honor the presence of an old man, and fear your God: I am the Lord.”

From time to time, it is appropriate, and actually commanded by God, that we reflect upon the “specialness” of the older generation. What champions they are. They have been victorious over many ruthless enemies. They have blazed many trails before us that has made life better for us. They have taken the gospel to much of the world. They have built many great congregations. With their generous giving they have financed an innumerable list of tremendous works to the glory of no one but God.

The “gray hairs” encourage us. Many have retired but most of them haven’t stopped being productive citizens of our Lord’s Kingdom. They have a mind for work, a heart for giving, and faces covered with “laugh lines.” Older folk make mole hills out of mountains. They adapt, find solutions, pray fervently, and love to worship. They give us stability, maturity, confidence, wisdom, sound instruction, and direction.

They know a lot more about people than computers. They belong to the generation that delights in simple things: a grandchild’s laugh, a warm pot of coffee shared with friends, all five verses of “Amazing Grace,” our nation’s flag, a hand-made quilt.

With dignity they have weathered many storms, bade farewell to many precious loved ones, seen too many doctors, battled diseases, depression and loneliness.

Older people stand for something. They live on for Christ. They take time to smell the roses. They still say “sir” and “ma’am” and deserve the same from others. Their bodies age but their souls have no wrinkles. They built the fires we warm by, and with God’s help, they’re not done yet. There’s still plenty of fuel in the tank. The sun has not yet set on them.

“Gray hairs” we owe you, big time! Thank you, Lord, for those who are leading the way.